Control means for telegraph printers and projectors



Jam 7, 1936. R. F. DIRKES El AL CONTROL MEANS FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS AND PROJECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR R. F. DIRKES E.R. WHEELER ATTO RNEY @M am- Jan. 7, 1936. RF. DIRKES El AL 2,027,025

CONTROL MEANS FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS AND PROJECTORS Filed Nov. 25, 195']. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Is at IHHHHI LINE FIG. 5

INVENTOR R. F. DIRKES E. R.WHEELER ATTORNEY I atenteol jet. 7, 1936 CONTROL MEANS FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS AND PROJECTORS Robert F. Dirkes, Jamaica, N. Y., and Evan R.

Wheeler, North Plainiield, N. J., assignors to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. 12., a corporation or New York Application November 25, 1931, Serial No. stress 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a telegraph projecting system and more particularly to the control of two or more telegraph page printers having projectors associated therewith and arranged to project news or similar items produced by the printers, alternately or selectively upon a common screen.

In telegraph page projectors as heretofore proposed, a single printer responsive to telegraph signals transmitted over a line is arranged adjacent a projector so that each line as it is printed, passes into the field of the projector, the

printed lines moving upwardly across the screen in an intermittent or step-by-step movement.

In news or bulletin printing systems it is usual to divide up the news matter into short paragraphs or separate items. These items are ordinarily of such length that the complete item may be projected on to a screen of convenient size at one time and therefore, in the projection oi such news items, it is desirable, in some instances, to withhold the displaying of an item until it has been completely printed and then to project the complete item on to the screen, holding it motionless thereon for a long enough \pe-= tied to enable it to he read and then replacing it with another complete item. For this purpose it has been found advantageous, or news projecting systems to employ a plurality of printers, one printer responding to signals to produce a copy or record during the period oi projection of the record from the other printer, both projectors being disposed so that the copy may be projected selectively upon a common screen. One printer may be remotely controlled, as part of a general news distributing system and the other printer may be locally operated and used to intersperse, between such general news items, items of localinterest. In such case, it is obvious that the copy must be projected from only one printer at a time, one printer preferably being given preference over the other. For instance, the general news printer may be normally in, operation to provide successive news items for projection, the local printer being arranged to cut in on the projection whenever a local item is to be displayed. In another arrangement both printers may be remotely conm trolled, successive items being recorded upon alternate printers whereby the record from one printer may be displayed on the screen during the printing oi the following item on th other printer, after which the record of the last printor may beied into the ileld of its projector and till the image of one item on the screen caused to fade into the image oi the other.

One of the objects of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a telegraph projecting system in which the above operations may be read- 5 ily obtained.

' Another object is to provide a telegraph printing and projecting system in which the control of the projecting apparatus may be efiectedselectively by line signals.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which two or more printing and. projecting devices may be selectively controlled by line signals and in which a locally controlled projector may be given preference thereover at the will it of the local operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embents of our invention;- Figure l is a diagraatic view of the projector and printer;

Figure 2 is a plan view of cated side by side;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view oi the trans mitting unit and the receiving unit;

Figure 4 'is a diagraatic view showing the inter-control feature between the two printers;

Figure 5 is a view showing another form oi inter-control between a plurality oi printers;

and

Figure 6 is a further diagrammatic view show ing the switching device.

Referring first to Figure l we have shown a telegraph projector comprising a printer A, a web B of transparent or translucent material, such as special prepared paper, Cellophane, etc, a take up or winding mechanism 0 and a pro jection system D. The printer is of the type bar type, well known in the art under the designation of page type bar printer, model it), manufactured by the Teletype Corporation. it is more fully shown with reference to a page projector in application of G. R. Benjamin and J. W. Long, Serial No. 523,372 filed March 17, 193i and which has become Patent No. 1,980,160, dated November 13, 1934 and entitled Projector for type bar printers. Briefly, it consists of a type bar carriage it supported upon the main frame it by rollers it and ill riding upon rails it and it, respectively, whereby the carriage may be moved transversely across the page as each successive character is printed. The web remains stationary during the printing of each line and moves upwardly into the field oi the the, projectors loprojector one line space as each line is completed.

The type bars I6, pivoted at I1, are actuated by individual pull bars I8 through the rack and pinion I9. The pull bars normally rest upon a group of notched code bars 20, actuated by individual vanes 2I positioned in accordance with received code signals by means, not shown, controlled by a polarized magnet 22 in the line circuit. A pull bar bail 23 is disposed below the bank of pull bars and is reciprocated by a pivoted lever 24, in turn actuated by a cam 25 driven by the motor 26. As each pull bar drops into the alined notches of the code bars 20, when a predetermined code combination is set up therein, a shoulder 21 on the pull bar moves down wardly into the path of the ball 23, whereupon the pull bar is forced forwardly to rock the type bar lever upwardly into engagement with the web B. A pair of contacts 28 may be disposed in the forward path of certain of the pull bars so as to be closed thereby, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The paper or web B passes from a reel 29 over an idler roller 3i, platen 32, thence through the held of the projector D and over a roller 33 to the take up reel 34. The reel 34 may be operated in known manner by an electric motor 35, through a belt 36 and a slip clutch, not shown.

The projection system comprises an enclosed light source 3?, reflector 38, condenser lens sys tem 39, and an objective lens system 4 I. The images are reflected by a small mirror 42 upwardly on to a larger mirror 43 and thence horizontally on to the rear of a translucent screen 44.

Referring now to Figure 2 it will be seen that two projectors DI and D2 may be disposed side by side, in angular relation so as to cause their light beams to converge towards the mirrors 42, which are also inclined towards the center line X-X of the projectors in such manner as to throw the image from each projector on to the same area of the screen 44. The mirror 43 may be common to both projectors.

In Figure 3 we have diagrammatically illustrated the control arrangement for the two projectors DI and D2. Each projector DI and D2 is provided with individual printer AI and A2 respectively. Printer AI is remotely controlled over an incoming telegraph line and printer A2 is controlled by a local keyboard transmitter 45 having the usual complement of transmitting contacts 46 connected to the operating magnet 22 of printer A2, and a pair of auxiliary contacts 41 and 48 controlled by the key levers 49. The light source 31 of each projector is controlled by a polarized relay 5I having two magnets 52 and 53. The tongue is grounded at G and operates between contacts 55 and 56. One of the magnets 52 is controlled by closing of contact 41 and the other magnet 53 byclosing of contact 48. Normally the tongue of the relay rests against the contact 55 connecting the ground G, in the energizing circuit of lamp 3! of projector DI so that the printed record on the web of printer AI is projected on to the screen.

With the arrangement here shown, each line as it is printed passes upwardly into the field of the projector. If it is desired to project a local news or advertising item, the same may be printed upon the web of the printer A2 and after it has been completed and moved into the field of the projector, the switch 48 of the keyboard transmitter 45 may be closed, energizing the magnet 53 and drawing the tongue 54 against the contact 56, thereby interrupting the operation of the projector DI and starting projector D2 into operation. Due to the lag in the cooling of the lamp filament, the effect of extinguishing one lamp and lighting the other in rapid succession, is to cause an overlapping in the operation of the projectors whereby the image from the projector DI appears to fade into the image from the projector D2. After the item has been displayed for the desired time, contact 41 of the printer magnet may be closed, by manipulation of the keyboard, to energize the magnet 52 and thereby returning the control to the projector DI.

It is obvious that the remote operator, not being aware of the discontinuance of the operation of the projector DI will continue to transmit to the printer AI. However, since the projector normally provides for a display of from ten to fifteen lines on the screen at one time, it is evident that, unless the local item is retained on the screen for an undue period, the projector DI will again be brought into operation before the last line previously displayed thereby passes beyond the field of the projector. Ordinarily, the local operator will observe the operation of the printer AI and switch over to the local item at the end of one of the general news items and will return the control to the projector Di as soon as the next general news item has been completed.

In Figure 4 I have shown an arrangement in which the projectors DI and D2 are both re-.

motely controlled, one serving to project an item or paragraph while the succeeding item is being printed by the printer associated with the other projector. In this case the incoming line is connected to the tongue 60 of a polarized relay BI, the opposite contacts 62 and 63 being connected to the control magnets 22 of the printers Al and A2 respectively. The light source 3'! of each projector is controlled through the tongue 64 of relay 612. In the position of the relay shown the lamp associated with projector D2 is extinguished, the line signals being directed to the printer A2 to produce a printed copy and the light source of projector DI is energized to project the item previously recorded by the printer Al on to the screen. The printer AI is idle at thisv time so that the projected item remains stationary on the screen. Upon the completion of the printing of the item by the printer A2, a special character signal may be transmitted to select a predetermined pull bar I8 of printer A2 having a contact 28 disposed opposite the end thereof, whereby the contact is closed, completing a circuit from the ground to the magnet 65 of relay 6|, reversing the position of the tongues 60 and 64, thereby interrupting the operation of projec tor DI and starting the operation of projector D2. At the same time the line is switched from the printer A2 to the printer AI. Similarly, at the termination of the next item a predetermined pull bar of printer AI may be selected to close the contact 28 of this printer and thereby complete a circuit to the magnet 66 to return the control to the projector DI. Each item remains stationary on the screen for its full projection 7' period and then fades into the other item with no movement of the lines across the screen.

Figure 5 shows a modification using a remotely controlled printer projector DI and lantern slide projector D3 and a locally controlled printer projector D2. As in the form shown in Figure 3, the locally controlled projector has preference and for this purpose the local printer D2 has a pair of contacts 68 arranged to be closed by a predetermined pull bar I 8. The contacts 68, when aoc'aoco closed, complete a circuit to one magnet 69 of a relay ii. The opposite magnet I2 is energized through the normally open contacts 13 of a dash pot solenoid Hi. The winding of the solenoid I4 is energized through a circuit completed to ground through the upper right contact and tongue 15 of relay l i. The lower right contact of relay M is connected to the lamp 3! of projector D2 and the left contact is connected to the tongue of a relay [6, which determines whether the projector D5 or D3 is to be operated.

In the position shown-ground at the tongue relay ii is connected through the tongue ll of relay it to the lamp ill of projector Di and consequently this projector is in operation. The line is connected to the operating magnet 22 of the associated printer and each line as it is printed is advanced into the field of the projector. control of projectors Di and D3 is efiected by line signals through the selection of one or the other of two pull bars it or 19, controlling contacts 8i and 82 respectively. If it is desired to discontinue news projector Di and start the telegraph projector D3 into operation, pull bar ill is selected, closing switch contacts d2, thereby energizing magnet til of the relay it and moving the tongue ill to its right contact. This interrupts the ground to the lamp of projector Di and completes it to the lamp of projector D3. When it is desired to return the control to projector Di, pull bar 78 is selected closing contact 8i and energizing magnet M to return tongue ll to its left contact.

should the local operator, alter printing an item for the projector D2 desire to take control, the contact it is closed by selecting the proper pull bar ill, thereby energizing magnet it of relayll and thereby throwing tongue id to its right side. This removes ground from the lamps oi both projector Di and Di and completes the circuit to the lamp or projector D2 starting this projector into operation. At the same time a circuit is completed to the slow acting solenoid M, which after a predetermined interval, pref erably of about one-half minute, causes contacts id to close, energizing magnet l2 and returning the tongue id to its left contact to restore the control to one or the other of the projectors DU or D2.

The projector D3 may be oithe type shown in the patent to Patterson, No. l,352,i7i granted The September id, 192d, or it may be a combined printer and projector operating alternately with.

the projector Dhas shown in Figure d.

In Figure c we have shown a single print employed for both local and remote operatic With the manual switch iii in the position shown,

magnet 22 of a printer d. "When it is desired to break in with a local item, the switch is moved to its right contacts, connecting the keyboard transmitter to the magnet 22 and at the same time inserting a compensating coll ill in the line circuit. During the operation of the local heyboard, signals transmitted over the line do'not actuate the receiving printer. The switch lid obviously may be controlled either from a contact of the keyboard transmitter or by a contact controlled by one of the pull bars or otherwise se= looted by the printer.

Obviously many variations and modifications may be made in the construction and arrange= merit oi the apparatus shown without departing from the invention. and therefore we do not desire to be limited to the details described. and shown herein.

What we claim is:

l. A telegraph projecting system comprising a telegraph printer responsive to code signals to produce a printed record, a screen, a first projector associated with said printer, a second printer controlled by code signals, a second projector for the second printer, a third projector, said projectors being disposed relative to each other so as to illuminate a common area of the screen, means for operating one of said projectors at a time, means controlled by code signals tranmitted to the first printer for selectively operating either the first or third projectors, means for starting the operation to the second projector and for rendering a first and third projector inoperative and means acting after a predetermined time for interrupting the operation of the sound projector and restarting the operation to either the first or third projector.

2. A telegraph projecting system comprising a plurality of record producing devices, a projector for each device, and means controlled by either one of said record producing devices for seleotively operating said projectors to project from a desired record.

3. A telegraph projecting system comprising a plurality of projectors, a telegraph recorder individual to each projector, a source of telegraph signals common to said recorders, each of said recorders being responsive to said signals to produce a printed record, means for passing each oi said'records through the field of oneoranother of said projectors, and means controlled by a predetermined selective operation or any of determined selective operation of either of said recorders in response to received telegraph signals for terminating the operation oi one of said projectors and initiating the operation of the other projector. 5. in a telegraph projecting system, a pair oi projectors, a pair of telegraph recorders, a teleygraph line common to said recorders, means conthe incoming line is connected to the operating .,;-trolled by telegraph code signals received over said line for connecting the line selectively to one or the other of said recorders to produce a printed record thereby, means for passing the record produced by each recorder through the held of an individual one of said projectors, and means also controlled by said received telegraph signals for selectively starting and stopping the operation of said projectors.

6. A telegraph projecting system comprising a plurality oi projectors, a telegraph recorder, a source of telegraph signals, said recorder being responsive to said signals to produce a printed record, means for passing said record through the field of one of said projectors, means controlled by a predetermined selective operation of said recorder in response to received telegraph signals for terminating the operation of one of said projectors and initiating the operation of another projector, and a timing mechanism for automatically terminating the operation of said last mentioned projector and restarting the operation of said first projector after a predetermined time.

7. A telegraph projecting system comprising a plurality of projectors, a telegraph recorder, a source of telegraph signals, said recorder being responsive to said signals to produce a printed record, means for passing said record through the field of one of said projectors, means controlled by a predetermined selective operation of said recorder in response to received telegraph signals for terminating the operation of one of said projectors and initiating the operation of another projector, and means independent of said received telegraph signals for terminating the operation of said last mentioned projector and restarting the operation of said first mentioned projector. v

8. A telegraph projecting system comprising a plurality of record producing devices, a common source of telegraph signals for operating said devices, a projector for each device, and means controlled by either one 01' said devices for associating said other device with said common source of signals and for selectively operating said projectors to project from a desired record.

9. A telegraph projecting system comprising a plurality of telegraph recorders responsive to code signals to produce a printed record, a projector associated with each of said recorders, an auxiliaryprojector, a screen common to said projectors, means controlled by code signals received on one of said recorders for selectively controlling either the projector associated therewith or said auxiliary projector, and means controlled by said signals received by said other recorder for operating the projector associated therewith and for discontinuing the operation of the operating one of said selectively controlled projectors.

ROBERT F. DIRKES. EVAN R. WHEELER. 

